Please help struggling sea otters recover with a donation when paying your taxes! By giving as little as $1 to the California Sea Otter Fund you can make a change. This fund contributes to the protection of many sea otters in California. It supports research which focuses on the question of why sea otters are still threatened and how people can protect and help them to recover. Sadly, 2016 could be the last year for you to support them on your tax return since the Franchise Tax Board will retire the fund if it cannot reach the target amount of $287,775.

What You Can Do:

1. When preparing your California income tax return, go to the contributions section (side 4 of Form 540 or side 3 of Form 540-2EZ)

2. Enter the amount of money you wish to donate to the California Sea Otter Fund in the box on line 410. Whole dollars only, please – the Franchise Tax Board will not accept cents.

3. Submit your tax forms as usual, and know that you’ve helped a really great cause. Plus, when you do next year’s taxes, this donation will be tax-deductible! If you are owed money by the state, the amount you contribute to the California Sea Otter Fund will be deducted from your refund.

If you owe taxes, the amount you contribute must be added to the check you make payable to the State.

If someone else prepares your income tax returns, remember to tell him or her that you want to donate to the California Sea Otter Fund on line 410!

If you use Turbo Tax:

When you near the end of your tax return, it should ask if you want to make a voluntary contribution to a special fund. Click “Yes,” then scroll to line 410 and enter the amount you want to donate.